Smith was named a first-team Academic All-America while maintaining a 3.84 GPA in communication.

​On the field he was equally impressive throwing for a Conference USA record 4,327 yards and 39 touchdowns while passing for more than 300 yards in each of Tulsa’s regular season games. Smith was named the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year and garnered first-team All-Conference honors at quarterback.

​Smith led the Golden Hurricane to a berth in the Conference USA championship game against Central Florida, where he threw for an additional 426 yards and three touchdowns.

​Smith then led Tulsa to a 63-7 win over Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl on January 6, 2008, and earning game MVP honors along the way. Under Smith’s leadership in 2007, Tulsa to become the first NCAA school to have a 5,000 yard passer, a 1,000 yard rusher, and three 1,000 yard receivers.

​“We are all thrilled to find out you won because this is an incredible, incredible year with so many finalists that are so deserving,” Wuerffel told Smith on Monday. “We are just thrilled to death to announce that you are the winner. My family and I are proud that you will be representing our family as the winner of the Wuerffel Trophy.

​“In fact, both my mom (Lola) and dad (Jon), at different points made the comment that of all the candidates you reminded them the most of me. I don’t know whether that was good or bad, but according to them that was good, so congratulations Paul.” Smith said he was excited and humbled to join past winners LSU’s Rudy Niswanger and Ohio State’s Joel Penton as a Wuerffel Trophy winner.